Fri, 09 Sep 2016 - 13:01
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IA assessment of two Queensland projects

Today Australia’s independent infrastructure advisory body, Infrastructure Australia, earmarked two Queensland road upgrades as priority projects, the Bruce Highway Upgrade (Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway) and the M1 Pacific Motorway-Gateway Motorway Merge Upgrade (southbound lanes).

This important IA outcome confirms the wisdom of the Turnbull Government’s decision to commit $105 million to this M1 project, as well as $110 to widen the M1 between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes.

This funding was committed on a 50:50 basis between the federal and state governments and followed strong advocacy by Member for Forde Bert van Manen and Member for McPherson Karen Andrews.

I now look forward to Queensland coming forward with its share of the funding.

It is important to understand what this assessment from IA confirms and what it does not confirm.

What it underscores is the economic importance of the project and an analysis of its costs and benefits.

Queensland Roads Minister Mark Bailey has suggested today that IA’s assessment was predicated on the basis of a particular state-federal funding split.

As Minister responsible for Infrastructure Australia, it is important that I make it clear that Minister Bailey’s claim is incorrect.

IA conducts its assessments without any consideration of the funding split between federal and state governments.